Game system, game terminal therefor, and server device therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a game system  100 , a game terminal  10 , and a server device  40 . Game system  100  allows players to play a game in a unit of a group constituting one game terminal  10  that has been selected as a parent node requiring a larger bandwidth during the game and at least two game terminals  10  that have been selected as child nodes requiring a smaller bandwidth during the game. The selection of the nodes is performed by server device  40 . A parent node is selected from a game terminal  10  that has transmitted a grouping request containing ability data indicating that the terminal has the ability to be selected as a parent node.

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.12/374,098, filed Jan. 16, 2009, which is a §371 National StageApplication of International Application No. PCT/JP2007/064360, filedJul. 20, 2007, which claims priority to Japanese Application No.2006-202671, filed Jul. 26, 2006, the disclosure of each is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a game system, to a game terminal, andto a server device.

BACKGROUND ART

There is a widely used game system that allows three or more players toplay one game via a network. A type of this game system advances a gameas a unit for a group including a server, or one game terminal selectedas a parent node (a server or master node) and two or more predeterminednumber of game terminals selected as child nodes (client or slavenodes). The communication band (bandwidth) required for the parent nodeduring the game is large, whereas the bandwidth required for the childnode is small.

In such a game system, a communication group including plural gameterminals is usually provided in each venue, and a group of gameterminals that will be used by players is formed across plural venues.Communication between game terminals is performed via a communicationpath allocated to each communication group (venue). A communication pathis shared by game terminals belonging to a communication group thatcorresponds to the communication path. The amount of the bandwidthrequired in a communication path will be greatest in a case in which allthe game terminals belonging to a communication group corresponding tothe communication path are parent nodes. Therefore, communicationfailures (communication accidents, loss of packets, etc.) that areattributed to insufficient bandwidth in a communication path can beavoided if the bandwidth is allocated in an amount that is equal to orgreater than the maximum bandwidth required for the communication path.Doing so, however, severely degrades the efficiency of use of thebandwidth because all the game terminals included in the samecommunication group simultaneously take the parent node on rareoccasions.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-137812proposes a technique in which communication failures are minimized evenin an environment in which the bandwidth of each communication path issmaller than the maximum amount of bandwidth required for eachcommunication path. In this technique, game terminals are selected sothat the burden is equal among communication groups. According to thistechnique, undesirable incidents can be avoided, such as a game terminalof a communication group being selected as a parent node, with thecommunication group corresponding to a communication path having a smallamount of remaining bandwidth, or a game terminal of a communicationgroup being selected as the child node, with the communication groupcorresponding to a communication path having a large amount of remainingbandwidth. Communication failures are therefore minimized.

In the above technique, however, communication errors cannot becompletely avoided. To prevent communication failures, the bandwidth ofan amount that is equal to or greater than the maximum bandwidthrequired for each communication path must be allocated as describedabove. Therefore, the most important challenge is to avoid thedegradation in the use efficiency of the bandwidth. To solve thisproblem, minimizing the maximum amount of bandwidth required iseffective. Designing a game so that the communication volume betweengame terminals is reduced is one way to minimize the maximum amount ofbandwidth required. This method, however, degrades the degree of freedomin designing a game.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has as objects to provide a game system thatallows the minimization of the maximum required bandwidth, withoutdegrading the degree of freedom in designing a game, to provide a gameterminal therefor, and to provide a server device therefor.

In the following, description will be given of the present invention. Itshould be noted that reference numerals in the attached drawings areshown in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the presentinvention; however, this is not intended to limit the present inventionto the embodiments as shown in the drawings.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a game system (100)having: plural communication groups (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ), each havingbeen allocated different communication paths from one another and eachincluding plural game terminals (10, 10, . . . ) sharing thecommunication path allocated to the respective communication groups; anda server device (40) that forms a player group of game terminals whichwill play a multiple-player game in a unit of a group by selecting, fromamong the plural game terminals (10, 10, . . . ) of the pluralcommunication groups (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ), one game terminal (10) as aparent node, requiring a larger amount of bandwidth during a game, andat least two game terminals as child nodes each requiring a smalleramount of bandwidth, each of the plural game terminals (10, 10, . . . )of the plural communication groups (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ) having: aninputter (14) that receives an instruction input by a player; a groupingrequest transmitter (11, 17) that generates, upon a predeterminedinstruction being input via the inputter (14), a grouping request forrequesting the forming of the player group and that transmits thegrouping request to the server device (40); a player group data receiver(11, 17) that receives player group data indicating the configuration ofthe player group; and a controller (11) that determines, on the basis ofthe player group data, whether the game terminal (10) has been selectedas a parent node and that controls communication during the game basedon a result of the determination; with the grouping request transmitter(11, 17) having: an entitlement determiner (11) that determines, uponreceiving the predetermined instruction, whether the game terminal isentitled to function as a parent node; and a generator (11) thatgenerates, in a case in which the entitlement determiner (11) hasdetermined that the exercise of the entitlement is possible, thegrouping request containing ability data indicating that the gameterminal has an ability to be selected as a parent node and thatotherwise generates the grouping request not containing the abilitydata; the server device (40) having: an ability detector (41, 42) thatdetects whether the grouping request contains the ability data uponreceiving the grouping request; a selector (41) that selects, as aparent node, one of the game terminals (10) from among game terminalsthat have transmitted the grouping request containing the ability dataand that selects at least two game terminals as child nodes from amonggame terminals that have transmitted the grouping requests other thanthe one game terminal (10) selected as the parent node; and a playergroup data transmitter (41, 42) that transmits, to each of the gameterminals configuring the player group grouped through the selection bythe selector (41), the player group data of the player group.

Specifically, the entitlement to function as a parent node includes theentitlement that a game terminal transmits a grouping request containingability data and the entitlement that a game terminal operates as aparent node. Therefore, the exercise of the entitlement to function as aparent node includes a game terminal transmitting a grouping requestcontaining ability data and operating as a parent node.

According to the game system, the maximum number of game terminalsconcurrently selected as a parent node in each communication group canbe made smaller than the number of the plural game terminals (10, 10, .. . ) of the communication group, whereby the maximum required bandwidthcan be minimized without reducing the freedom in designing a game.

There are various ways to determine whether the exercise of theentitlement is possible.

For example, a flag showing whether the entitlement can be exercised maybe stored in each game terminal, so that, in an instance in which onegame terminal begins exercising the entitlement, the flag stored in eachof the other game terminals of a communication group including the gameterminal exercising the entitlement is updated to that which shows thatthe entitlement cannot be exercised, and each game terminal maydetermine, based on the flag stored in the game terminal itself, whetherthe entitlement can be exercised.

Furthermore, the above game system (100) may have plural managementdevices (50) respectively provided for each of the communication groups(5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ), with each management device being capable ofcommunicating with each of the plural game terminals (10, 10, . . . ) ofa corresponding communication group (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ), and in thegame system, the entitlement determiner (11) of the game terminal mayhave: a transfer requester (11, 17) that transmits, to the managementdevice (50) corresponding to a communication group (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . )containing the game terminal (10), a transfer request for requesting thetransfer of the entitlement so as to determine whether the game terminalcan exercise the entitlement; and an entitlement obtainer (11, 17) thatreceives entitlement data indicating that the game terminal has theentitlement, and the entitlement determiner determines that the exerciseis possible only in a case in which the entitlement obtainer (11, 17)receives the entitlement before a predetermined time has elapsed sincethe transmission of the transfer request, each of the plural managementdevices (50) having: an entitlement storage device (54) that indicatesfrom information in memory the number of the entitlements held by themanagement device (50); a transfer request receiver (51, 52) thatreceives the transfer request; and a transfer processor (51, 52) that,upon the transfer request receiver (51, 52) receiving the transferrequest, determines whether the information in the memory of theentitlement storage (54) indicates that there is at least oneentitlement, that transmits the entitlement data to the game terminal(10) that has transmitted the transfer request in a case in which it isdetermined that there is at least one entitlement, and a transferprocessor (51, 52) that updates the information in the memory of theentitlement storage (54) so that the number of the entitlements held bythe management device (50) is reduced by 1. In this mode (hereinafterreferred to as a “first mode”), the problem can be solved both in a casein which the number of the entitlements that can be exercised by theplural game terminals of each communication group is 1 and in a case inwhich the number is greater than 1.

The first mode includes a mode in which a game terminal concurrentlyserves as a management device. In the mode in which a game terminalconcurrently serves as a management device, each game terminal willidentify, before transmitting a transfer request, a game terminalserving as a management device corresponding to a communication groupincluding the game terminal. This mode in which a game terminalconcurrently serves as a management device includes a mode in which apredetermined one of the plural game terminals of each communicationgroup may be caused to function as a management device corresponding tothe communication group, and a mode in which an arbitrary one of theplural game terminals of each communication group may be caused tofunction as a management device corresponding to the communicationgroup. In the latter case, each game terminal will identify, beforetransmitting a transfer request, a game terminal that is functioning asa management device corresponding to a communication group including thegame terminal.

In a mode in which a game terminal concurrently serves as a managementdevice, the game terminal concurrently serving as a management devicewould include a virtual entity provided with the functions of a gameterminal and a virtual entity provided with the functions of amanagement device. A process can be shown as an example of a virtualentity. In a case in which the virtual entity is a process, thecommunication between a management device and a game terminalconcurrently functioning as a management device will be “InterProcessCommunication”.

In the first mode, each of the game terminals (10, 10, . . . ) of theplural communication groups (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ) may further have areturn notification transmitter (11, 17) that transmits a returnnotification notifying a return of the entitlement to a managementdevice (50) corresponding to a communication group including the gameterminal (10) in a case in which the entitlement is not necessary, andeach of the plural management devices (50) may have: a returnnotification receiver (51, 52) that receives the return notification;and a return processor (51) that, upon the return notification receiver(51, 52) receiving the return notification, updates the memory contentof the entitlement storage (54) so that the number of the entitlementsheld by the management device (50) is increased by 1. According to thismode (hereinafter referred to as a “second mode”), the entitlement isreturned to a management device from a game terminal that has beenselected as a parent node in a case in which the entitlement is nolonger required. Therefore, the chances of exercising the entitlementcan be repeatedly provided for the game terminals included in acommunication group corresponding to the management device. Because theentitlement is not necessary during a period other than a period inwhich the entitlement is being exercised, it is preferable for thereturn notification transmitter to transmit a return notificationimmediately after a period in which the entitlement has been exercised.

In the second mode, the selector (41), upon receiving a grouping requestcontaining the ability data, may determine whether one game terminal(10) has already been selected as a parent node and transmit, in a casein which the parent node has already been selected, a “not-needed”notification indicating that the ability data is not needed to a gameterminal (10) that has transmitted the grouping request, and each of theplural game terminals (10, 10, . . . ) of the plural communicationgroups (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ) may have a “not-needed” notificationreceiver (11, 17) that receives the “not-needed” notification, and thereturn notification transmitter (11, 17), upon the “not-needed”notification receiver (11, 17) receiving the “not-needed” notification,that transmits a return notification for notifying the return of theentitlement to a management device (50) corresponding to a communicationgroup containing the game terminal (10). According to this embodiment,because the entitlement that is not necessary is immediately returned,it is unlikely that one or more game terminals will miss an opportunityto exercise the entitlement, one or more game terminals being includedin the same communication group as the game terminal that has returnedthe entitlement.

Additionally, in the above game system (100), the server device may formthe player group sequentially one by one and select a predeterminednumber of the game terminals as the child nodes, and the selector (41)may have a main selector (41), upon receiving the grouping requestcontaining the ability data, that selects the game terminal (10) thathas transmitted the grouping request as a parent node of a player groupthat is to be formed at an earliest timing from among ungrouped playergroups in a case in which no game terminal (10) has been selected as aparent node of the earliest-to-be-formed player group, and that selects,in a case in which a game terminal has been selected as a parent node ofthe earliest-to-be-formed player group, the transmitter game terminal(10) as a parent node of a player group that is to be formed at anearliest timing from among player groups for each of which no gameterminal (10) as a parent has been selected, whereas in a case in whichthe grouping request does not contain the ability data, that selects thetransmitter game terminal (10) as a child node of a player group to beformed at an earliest timing from among ungrouped player groups if aselection number of the earliest-to-be-formed player group is smallerthan the predetermined number, with the selection number indicating anumber of game terminals (10) already selected as child nodes of aplayer group and that selects, in a case in which the selection numberis not smaller than the predetermined number, the transmitter gameterminal (10) as a child node of a player group that is to be formed atan earliest timing from among player groups for which the selectionnumber is smaller than the predetermined number; and a secondaryselector (41) that, when a predetermined time has elapsed since agrouping request was received for the first time from a game terminal(10) that has been selected as a parent node or a child node of a playergroup to be formed at an earliest timing from among ungrouped playergroups, with the grouping request having caused the selection, in a casein which the selection number of the earliest-to-be-formed player groupis smaller than the predetermined number and in which a number of gameterminals (10) that have been selected as a parent node of anotherplayer group to be formed after the earliest-to-be-formed player groupis larger than a difference obtained by deducting the selection numberfrom the predetermined number, selects, from among the game terminals(10) that have been selected as a parent node of another player group tobe formed after the earliest-to-be-formed player group, a game terminal(10) of the number corresponding to the difference as child nodes of theearliest-to-be-formed player group from among ungrouped player groups.According to this embodiment, the probability can be reduced that aplayer group will not be formed even after a predetermined time haselapsed since a game terminal sent a grouping request, the player groupincluding the game terminal.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a game terminal (10)for use in a game system (100) including a server device (40), the gameterminal having: a communicator (17) that communicates with the serverdevice (40) that forms a player group of game terminals that will play amultiple-player game in a unit of a group by selecting, from amongplural game terminals (10, 10, . . . ) of plural communication groups(5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ), one game terminal (10) as a parent node requiringa larger amount of bandwidth during a game and at least two gameterminals as child nodes each requiring a smaller amount of bandwidth;an inputter (14) that receives an instruction input by a player; agrouping request transmitter (11, 17) that generates, upon apredetermined instruction being input via the inputter (14), a groupingrequest for requesting the forming of the player group and thattransmits the grouping request to the server device (40) via thecommunicator (17); a player group data receiver (11, 17) that receives,via the communicator (17), player group data indicating theconfiguration of the player group; and a controller (11) thatdetermines, on the basis of the player group data, whether the gameterminal has been selected as a parent node, the controller controllingcommunication during the game based on a result of the determination;with the grouping request transmitter (11, 17) having: an entitlementdeterminer (11) that determines, upon receiving the predeterminedinstruction, whether the game terminal can exercise entitlement tofunction as a parent node; and a generator (11) that generates, in acase in which the entitlement determiner (11) has determined that theexercise of the entitlement is possible, the grouping request containingability data indicating that the game terminal has an ability to beselected as a parent node and that otherwise generates the groupingrequest not containing the ability data, and the server device (40) mayhave: an ability detector (41, 42) that detects whether the groupingrequest contains the ability data upon receiving the grouping request; aselector (41) that selects, as a parent node, one of game terminals (10)from among game terminals that have transmitted the grouping requestcontaining the ability data and that selects at least two game terminalsas child nodes from among game terminals that have transmitted thegrouping requests other than the one game terminal (10) selected as theparent node; and a player group data transmitter (41, 42) thattransmits, to each of the game terminals configuring the player groupgrouped through the selection by the selector (41), the player groupdata of the player group; and each of the plural communication groups(5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ) has plural game terminals (10, 10, . . . ), theplural communication groups (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ) have been allocateddifferent communication paths from one another, and the plural gameterminals (10, 10, . . . ) of each of the communication groups share acommunication path allocated to the communication group.

According to the game terminal, the above described game system can beconfigured. Therefore, according to this game terminal, the maximumrequired bandwidth can be minimized without decreasing the freedom indesigning a game.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a server devicefor use in a game system having plural communication groups (5A, 5B, 5C,. . . ) each including plural game terminals (10, 10, . . . ), in whichthe plural communication groups have been allocated differentcommunication paths from one another, and the plural game terminals (10,10, . . . ) of each of the communication groups share a communicationpath allocated to each communication group, the server device (40)having: a communicator (42) that communicates with each of the pluralgame terminals; and a grouper that forms a player group of gameterminals that will play a multiple-player game in a unit of a group byselecting, from among the plural game terminals (10, 10, . . . ) of theplural communication groups (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ), one game terminal (10)as a parent node requiring a larger amount of bandwidth during a gameand at least two game terminals as child nodes each requiring a smalleramount of bandwidth, and each of the plural game terminals (10, 10, . .. ) of the plural communication groups (5A, 5B, 5C, . . . ) may have: aninputter (14) that receives an instruction input by a player; a groupingrequest transmitter (11, 17) that generates, upon a predeterminedinstruction being input via the inputter (14), a grouping request forrequesting the forming of the player group and that transmits thegrouping request to the server device (40); a player group data receiver(11, 17) that receives player group data indicating the configuration ofthe player group via the communicator; and a controller (11) thatdetermines, on the basis of the player group data, whether the gameterminal (10) has been selected as a parent node and that controlscommunication during the game based on a result of the determination,with the grouping request transmitter (11, 17) having: an entitlementdeterminer (11) that determines, upon receiving the predeterminedinstruction, whether the game terminal can exercise entitlement tofunction as a parent node; and a generator (11) that generates, in acase in which the entitlement determiner (11) has determined that theexercise is possible, the grouping request containing ability dataindicating that the game terminal (10) has an ability to be selected asa parent node and that otherwise generates the grouping request notcontaining the ability data, and the grouper of the server device (40)may have: an ability detector (41, 42) that detects whether the groupingrequest contains the ability data upon receiving the grouping requestvia the communicator; a selector (41) that selects, as a parent node,one of game terminals (10) from among game terminals that havetransmitted the grouping request containing the ability data and thatselects at least two game terminals (10) as child nodes from among gameterminals that have transmitted the grouping requests other than the onegame terminal (10) selected as the parent node; and a player group datatransmitter that transmits, to each of the game terminals configuringthe player group grouped through the selection by the selector (41), theplayer group data of the player group.

According to this server device, the above-described game system can beconfigured. Therefore, according to this server device, the maximumrequired bandwidth can be minimized without degrading the freedom indesigning a game.

Additionally, in the present embodiment, the presence or absence of theentitlement may be determined instead of determining whether theentitlement can be exercised. Specifically, in the above described gamesystem, the entitlement determiner (11) may determine whether a gameterminal has an entitlement when a predetermined instruction is input,and the generator (11) may generate, in a case in which it is determinedby the entitlement determiner (11) that the game terminal has theentitlement, the grouping request including ability data indicating thatthe game terminal has the ability to be selected as a parent node, andotherwise generates the grouping request not containing the abilitydata. Furthermore, in a case in which the entitlement determiner (11)has the transfer requester (11) and the entitlement obtainer (11, 17),the transfer requester (11) may transmit to the management devicecorresponding to the communication group including the game terminal, atransfer request requesting the transfer of the entitlement so as todetermine whether the game terminal has an entitlement and theentitlement obtainer (11, 17) may receive entitlement data indicatingthat the game terminal has an entitlement, and the entitlementdeterminer (11) may determine that the game terminal has the entitlementonly in a case in which the entitlement obtainer receives theentitlement data.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the maximum required bandwidth can beminimized without reducing the degree of freedom in the game designing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a gamesystem 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a game terminal 10of game system 100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server device 40of game system 100.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a data configuration of an entrylist 441 of the server device 40.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device50 of game system 100.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main process performed by a processor 11of game terminal 10.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a child node process performed byprocessor 11.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a parent node process performed byprocessor 11.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a management process performed by aprocessor 51 of management device 50.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a matching process performed by aprocessor 41 of server device 40.

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an operational example of gamesystem 100.

FIG. 12A is a sequence diagram showing an operational example of gamesystem 100.

FIG. 12B is a sequence diagram showing an operational example of gamesystem 100.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of details of entry list 441.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of details of entry list 441.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of details of entry list 441.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of details of entry list 441.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, description will be given of a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, with reference to the drawings. A specificconfiguration described in the following is merely an example, and thepresent invention encompasses, as its scope, various embodimentsobtained by modifying the specific configuration.

Game System:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of gamesystem 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Gamesystem 100 is a system in which players are able to play a predeterminedgame in a unit of a group constituting three communication nodes. Thepredetermined game is a multiplayer-type network game, and the executionof the game essentially involves communication between communicationnodes constituting a group (hereinafter referred to as a “player group”)of game terminals who will be players playing the game.

A part of game system 100 is sited at a venue (facility) A, B, C, . . .where players who have visited the site can play the predetermined game.Specifically, each venue is provided with a LAN (Local Area Network) 25,four game terminals 10 connected to LAN 25, and so as to allow playersto play the predetermined game, a router 20 connecting LAN 25 to anInternet 1, and a management device 50, also connected to LAN 25, formanaging a parent node entitlement (a right) which will be describedlater. Furthermore, game system 100 is provided with a server device(matching server device) 40 that forms the player group by selectingthree game terminals 10 as communication nodes and a router 30connecting server device 40 and the Internet 1.

At each venue, four game terminals 10 constitute a communication group.For example, at the venue A, there is a communication group 5A includingfour game terminals in the venue A. The communication between theInternet 1 and each venue is performed via a communication pathcorresponding to the venue. The communication path corresponding to thevenue is a communication path between router 20 of the venue and theInternet 1 and is allocated to a communication group in the venue. Forexample, a communication path 27A corresponding to the venue A isallocated to the communication group 5A. Game terminal 10 at each venueis capable of communicating with another device sited in the same venuevia LAN 25 and is also capable of communicating with server device 40and game terminals of another venue via LAN 25, router 20, thecommunication path corresponding to the venue, and the Internet 1.

Description will now be given of the “player group”. From among threecommunication nodes included in a player group, one is a parent node,which requires a large bandwidth while playing the predetermined game,and the others are child nodes, which require a small bandwidth whileplaying the predetermined game. In actuality, server device 40 forms aplayer group by selecting one game terminal 10 as a parent node and twogame terminals 10 as child nodes. Each game terminal 10 is capable oftransmitting a grouping request for requesting the forming of a playergroup to server device 40. The three game terminals 10 are selected fromgame terminals 10 that have transmitted grouping requests.

The “parent node entitlement” will be described next. In the presentembodiment, the number of game terminals 10 acting as a parent node islimited to one for each communication group, thereby solving theproblem. The parent node entitlement is a concept introduced to realizethe limit. The parent node entitlement is a right to function as aparent node and is exercised by one or more other game terminals 10. Inthe present embodiment, one parent node entitlement is allocated to eachcommunication group 5A, 5B, 5C, . . . . A parent node entitlementallocated to each communication group is managed by management device 50corresponding to each communication group.

Game terminal 10, having the parent node entitlement, is capable oftransmitting a grouping request containing ability data indicating theability to be selected as a parent node, and is also operative as aparent node in a case in which game terminal 10 is selected as a parentnode by server device 40. As is obvious from the above, the parent nodeentitlement is a right to transmit a grouping request containing abilitydata indicating ability to be selected as a parent node and also is anentitlement to operate as a parent node. A game terminal 10 operating asa parent node is selected from game terminals 10 that have transmitted agrouping request containing ability data to server device 40.

Game Terminal:

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of game terminal 10.As shown in the figure, game terminal 10 has a processor 11, an inputunit 14, a display unit 15, a communication interface (communicationunit) 17, a non-volatile memory 18, and a rewritable memory 19.Processor 11 is, for example, at least one CPU (Central ProcessingUnit).

Input unit 14 is provided with plural operators, and when the operatorsare operated, supplies to processor 11 an operation signal correspondingto the operation. The plural operators include a start operator forinputting a start instruction (predetermined instruction) instructingthe start of the predetermined game and other operators specific to thecontent of the predetermined game. For example, in a case in which thepredetermined game is a game in which vehicles are manipulated in avirtual space, an operator for manipulating a vehicle is an operatorspecific to the content of the predetermined game.

Display unit 15 has a screen 151 and displays, when image data issupplied from processor 11, an image representing the image data onscreen 151. A monitor or a video projector can be used as display unit15. In a case in which a video projector is used, a screen on which animage is to be projected is screen 151. Communication interface 17transmits and receives signals to and from LAN 25 and relays data fromprocessor 11 and LAN 25 and vice versa. Processor 11 transmits andreceives data to and from another device by using communicationinterface 17.

Non-volatile memory 18 is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) orEEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM) and stores aprogram 181. Program 181, by being executed by processor 11, causes gameterminal 10 to perform various processes such as a main process, whichwill be described later. Non-volatile memory 18 stores communicationaddresses of server device 40 and management device 50.

Rewritable memory 19 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) andstores player group data T showing a configuration of a player group towhich this game terminal 10 belongs. The data configuration of playergroup data T is arbitrary, and for example, can be a configuration inwhich, for each of the three game terminals 10 constituting a playergroup, data showing a communication address of game terminal 10 isassociated with a flag showing whether game terminal 10 has beenselected as a parent node.

Server Device:

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of server device 40.As show in the figure, server device 40 is provided with a processor 41,a communication interface (communication unit) 42, a non-volatile memory43, and a rewritable memory 44. Processor 41 is, for example, at leastone CPU. Communication interface 42 is for transmitting and receivingsignals to and from router 30 and for relaying data from processor 41 torouter 30 and vice versa. Processor 41 uses communication interface 42to exchange data with another device.

Non-volatile memory 43 is, for example, a ROM or a hard disk, and itstores a program 431 therein. Program 431, being executed by processor41, causes server device 40 to perform various processes such as amatching process and other processes, which will be described later.Rewritable memory 44 is, for example, a RAM and stores an entry list 441therein, the entry list showing a configuration of a player group forwhich grouping has not yet been performed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a data configuration of entry list441. As shown in the figure, entry list 441 is a sequence of a recordhaving one parent field and two child fields (a first child field and asecond child field). Each record corresponds to a player group, and theorder of records corresponds to the order in which the grouping of acorresponding player group will be accomplished. Each record storescommunication addresses of game terminals 10 constituting acorresponding player group. Specifically, a communication address ofgame terminal 10 selected as a parent node is stored in the parentfiled, and a communication address of game terminal 10 selected as achild node is stored in each of the two child fields.

Management Device:

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of management device50. Management device 50 is provided with a processor 51, acommunication interface 52, a non-volatile memory 53, and a rewritablememory 54. Processor 51 is, for example, at least one CPU. Communicationinterface 52 is for transmitting and receiving signals to and from LAN25 and relays data from processor 51 to LAN 25 and vice versa. Processor51 uses communication interface 52 to exchange data with another device.

Non-volatile memory 53 is, for example, a ROM and a hard disk, and itstores a program 531. Program 531, being executed by processor 51,causes management device 50 to perform various processes such as amanagement process and other processes, which will be described later.Rewritable memory 54 is, for example, a RAM, and stores an entitlementflag 541 showing the presence or absence of a parent node entitlement.

Because the number of parent node entitlements managed by managementdevice 50 is one, and because entitlement flag 541 is a binary data,management device 50 having a parent node entitlement is equivalent tothe number of parent node entitlements being one, and management device50 not having a parent node entitlement is equivalent to the number ofparent node entitlements being zero. That is, the entitlement flag 541is data showing the number of parent node entitlements held by themanagement device 50.

Main Process:

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a main process performed by processor 11 ofgame terminal 10. Processor 11 executes the main process when anoperation signal is supplied thereto from input unit 14, the operationsignal corresponding to an operation made to a start operator. In themain process, processor 11 transmits, to management device 50(hereinafter referred to as a “responsible management device”)corresponding to a communication group (one of 5A, 5B, and 5C) thatincludes game terminal 10 of the processor 11, a transfer requestrequesting the transfer of a parent node entitlement (SA1).

Processor 11 subsequently receives, from the responsible managementdevice, a transfer response that is a response to the transfer request(SA2). Processor 11 then determines whether the transfer responsecontains entitlement data indicates that game terminal 10 has the parentnode entitlement (SA3). In a case in which a result of the determinationis NO, processor 11 generates a grouping request not containing abilitydata, for transmission to server device 40 (SA4). Processor 11 thendetermines whether it has received player group data indicating aconfiguration of a player group (SA5). This determination is repeateduntil the determination changes to YES, i.e., until player group data isreceived.

In a case in which a result of the determination of Step SA3 is YES,processor 11 generates a grouping request containing ability data fortransmission to server device 40 (SA6). Processor 11 then determineswhether a “not-needed” notification is received for the first timeduring a period after the grouping request was transmitted, the“not-needed” notification indicating that the ability data isunnecessary. Processor 11 transmits, to the responsible managementdevice, a return notification notifying the return of the parent nodeentitlement only in a case in which a result of the determination is YES(SA8). Processor 11 then determines whether it has received a playergroup data (SA9) and proceeds the routine to Step SA7 in a case in whicha result of this determination is NO. That is, processor 11 that havetransmitted the grouping request containing the ability data repeats theprocesses from Steps SA7 through SA9 until it receives a player groupdata. The “not-needed” notification is transmitted from server device 40to game terminal 10 in a case in which server device 40 has decided tohave game terminal 10 function as a child node, even in a case in whichgame terminal 10 has requested that server device 40 instruct gameterminal 10 to operate as a parent node by transmitting the groupingrequest containing ability data. A specific operational example thereofwill be described below (FIGS. 10 and 11).

Processor 11, upon receiving player group data, stores the data asplayer group data T in rewritable memory 19. Processor 11 determines,based on player group data T, whether game terminal 10 of the processor11 has been selected as a parent node (SA10). In a case in which aresult of the determination is NO, processor 11 performs a child nodeprocess in which game terminal 10 is caused to operate as a child node(SA11), to terminate the main process. In a case in which a result ofthe determination of Step SA10 is YES, processor 11 performs a parentnode process in which game terminal 10 is caused to operate as a parentnode (SA12). When the parent node process ends and the predeterminedgame is finished, processor 11 transmits, to the responsible managementdevice, a return notification notifying the return of the parent nodeentitlement (SA13), to end the main process.

Child Node Process:

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a child node process performed byprocessor 11 of game terminal 10. In the child node process, processor11 first determines a configuration of the player group to which gameterminal 10 belongs, based on player group data, and performs a processof establishing communication connection with game terminal 10 that hasbeen selected as a parent node. In this process, processor 11 transmits,to game terminal 10 selected as a parent node, an establishment requestrequesting the establishment of a communication connection (SC1) andreceives from game terminal 10 an establishment response, which is aresponse to the establishment request (SC2).

Subsequently, processor 11 determines whether it has received a gamestart notification instructing the start of a game process, which willbe described later (SC3). This determination is repeated until a resultof the determination changes to YES, i.e., until processor 11 receives agame start notification. When a result of the determination of Step SC3changes to YES, processor 11 performs a game process of advancing thepredetermined game (SC4), to end the child node process.

In the game process, processor 11 generates an image based on operationsignals supplied from input unit 14 and data from another game terminal10 of a player group to which game terminal 10 of processor 11 belongs,so as to display the image on screen 151 of display unit 15.

Parent Node Process:

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a parent node process performed by processor 11of game terminal 10. In the parent node process, processor 11 firstdetermines a configuration of the player group to which this gameterminal 10 belongs and performs a process of establishing acommunication connection with each of the two game terminals 10 thathave been selected as child nodes. In this process, processor 11 firstdetermines whether it has received an establishment request from gameterminal 10 selected as a child node (SB1). The determination isrepeated until a result of the determination changes to YES, i.e., untilprocessor 11 receives an establishment request. When a result of thedetermination of Step SB1 changes to YES, processor 11 transmits anestablishment response to game terminal 10 that has transmitted theestablishment request (SB2). Processor 11 then determines whether allthe necessary communication connections are established (SB3). In a casein which a result of the determination is NO, processor 11 advances theroutine to Step SB1.

In a case in which a result of the determination of Step SB3 changes toYES, processor 11 transmits a game start notification to each of the twogame terminals 10 that have been selected as child nodes (SB4).Processor 11 then performs a game process (SB5), to end the parent nodeprocess. The game process of Step SB5 is a game process for a parentnode. That is, in the game process, other game terminals 10, which willbe at the other end of the communication connection, will be the twogame terminals 10 that have been selected as child nodes, and therefore,the number of communication connections used in the communication willbe two.

Management Process:

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a management process performed byprocessor 51 of management device 50. In the management process,processor 51 first receives data from game terminal 10 included in acounterpart communication group (SD1). Processor 51 then determineswhether the received data is a transfer request for requesting thetransfer of a parent node entitlement (SD2). In a case in which a resultof the determination is YES, processor 51 refers to entitlement flag 541and determines whether there is a parent node entitlement (SD3). In acase in which a result of this determination is NO, processor 51transmits, to game terminal 10 that has transmitted the transferrequest, a transfer response not containing entitlement data indicatingthat game terminal 10 has a parent node entitlement (SD4) and advancesthe routine to Step SD1.

In a case in which a result of the determination of Step SD3 is YES,processor 51 transmits to the game terminal 10 that has transmitted thetransfer request a transfer response containing the entitlement data(SD5). Processor 51 then updates entitlement flag 541 so that itindicates that there is no parent node entitlement (SD6) and advancesthe process to Step SD1.

On the other hand, in a case in which a result of the determination ofStep SD2 is NO, processor 51 determines whether the received data is areturn notification notifying the returning of the parent nodeentitlement to management device 50 (SD7). In a case in which a resultof the determination changes to NO, processor 51 advances the process toStep SD1. In a case in which a result of the determination of Step SD7is YES, processor 51 updates entitlement flag 541 so that it indicatesthat there is a parent node entitlement (SD8) and advances the processto Step SD1.

Matching Process:

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a matching process performed by processor 41of server device 40. In the matching process, processor 41 firstreceives a grouping request from game terminal 10 included in gamesystem 100 (SE1). Processor 41 then determines whether the receivedgrouping request contains ability data (SE2). Processor 41 subsequentlyperforms a main selection process. Specifically, processor 41 performs aparent selection process in a case in which a result of thedetermination of Step SE2 is YES (SE3), whereas processor 41 performs achild selection process in a case in which a result of the determinationis NO (SE4).

In the parent selection process, processor 41 selects a game terminal 10that has transmitted the received grouping request as a parent node.Specifically, processor 41 stores a communication address of gameterminal 10 that has transmitted the received grouping request in theparent field of a record corresponding to a player group that is to beformed at the earliest timing, from among records with blank parentfields (a record with no communication address having been stored in itsparent field). In a case in which there is no record with a blank parentfield, a blank record is added to entry list 441, after which the aboveprocess is performed.

In the child selection process, processor 41 selects a game terminal 10that has transmitted the received grouping request as a child node.Specifically, processor 41 stores a communication address of gameterminal 10 that has transmitted the received grouping request in ablank child field of a record corresponding to a player group that is tobe formed at the earliest timing, from among records with either one orboth of the two child fields being blank. In a case in which there is norecord with either one or both of the two child fields being blank, ablank record is added to entry list 441, after which the above processis performed. Processor 41 subsequently determines whether a playergroup is formed (SE5).

Specifically, processor 41 determines whether three game terminals 10have been selected for a player group that is to be formed at theearliest timing (hereinafter referred to as a “next-formed playergroup”) from among player groups with their corresponding recordsexisting in entry list 441. More specifically, it is checked whether acommunication address is stored in all of the fields of a recordcorresponding the next-formed player group (hereinafter referred to as a“next-formed record”) from among records of the entry list 441.

In a case in which a result of the determination of Step SE5 is YES,processor 41 refers to the next-formed record to generate player groupdata for transmission to game terminals 10 that have communicationaddresses stored in the fields of the next-formed record (SE6).Subsequently, processor 41 deletes the record from entry list 441 (SE7),to advance the process to Step SE1.

On the other hand, in a case in which a result of the determination ofStep SE5 is NO, processor 41 determines whether a predetermined time (T)has passed since the first receipt (SE8). In a case in which a result ofthe determination is NO, processor 41 advances the process to Step SE1.The first receipt is the earliest (the oldest) receipt from among thereceipts of grouping requests that have caused communication addressesthat have been stored in entry list 441 to be stored in entry list 441.

In a case in which a result of the determination of Step SE8 is YES,processor 41 determines whether the number of game terminals 10 thathave been selected as child nodes (the selection number) in thenext-formed player group is less than 2 (SE9) and advances the processto Step SE1 in a case in which a result of the determination changes toNO. In the present embodiment, the selection number is 0, 1, or 2.

In a case in which a result of the determination of Step SE9 is YES,processor 41 determines whether the number of game terminals 10 thathave been selected as parent nodes (hereinafter referred to as a“provisional parent number”) of a player group to be formed subsequentto the next-formed player group (hereinafter referred to as a“subsequent player group”) is sufficient (SE10). A result of thedetermination changes to NO in a case in which the provisional parentnumber is less than a difference obtained by deducting the selectionnumber of the next-formed player group from 2, and it changes to YES ifthe provisional parent number is equal to or larger than the difference.In a case in which a result of the determination changes to NO,processor 41 advances the process to Step SE1.

In a case in which a result of the determination of Step SE10 is YES,processor 41 performs a secondary selection process in which thenext-formed player group is formed by allocating one or more parentnodes of one or more subsequent player groups for one or more childnodes of the next-formed player group (SE11). Specifically, from amongone or more game terminals 10 that have been selected as one or moreparent nodes of subsequent player groups, the one or more game terminals10 of the number corresponding to the above difference are selected asthe one or more child nodes of the next-formed player group. Morespecifically, processor 41 focuses on one or more records of the numbercorresponding to the above difference, from among the records in entrylist 441, with the one or more records that are focused on following thenext-formed record, and processor 41 transfers one or more communicationaddresses stored in the one or more parent fields of the one or morerecords to the one or more blank child fields of the next-formed record.Processor 41 also transmits a “not-needed” notification to the one ormore game terminals 10 corresponding to the one or more transferredcommunication addresses. It is noted that, in a case in which thetransfer of the one or more communication addresses causes a blankrecord, processor 41 deletes the record from entry list 441. When thesecondary selection process is finished, processor 41 performs theprocesses of Steps SE6 and SE7 and advances the process to Step SE1.

Operational Example

Description will be next given of an operational example of game system100. In this operational example, game terminal 10 of the venue A(hereinafter referred to as “game terminal 10A”) communicates withmanagement device 50 of the venue A (hereinafter referred to as“management device 50A”) to transmit a grouping request containingability data, game tell final 10 of the venue B (hereinafter referred toas “game terminal 10B”) communicates with management device 50 of thevenue B (hereinafter referred to as “management device 50B”) to transmita grouping request not containing ability data showing ability to beselected as a parent node, and game terminal 10 of the venue C(hereinafter referred to as “game terminal 10C”) communicates withmanagement device 50 of the venue C (hereinafter referred to as“management device 50C”) to transmit a grouping request containingability data. As a result, a player group is formed of game terminals10A, 10B, and 10C, and the predetermined game advances in the playergroup. Specific description will be given below. It is assumed here thatthe entry list 441 is in a state in which no record is included.

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an operational example of gamesystem 100. As shown in the figure, a start instruction is first inputwith input unit 14 at game terminal 10A. Processor 11 of game terminal10A then transmits to management device 50A a transfer requestrequesting the transfer of a parent node entitlement. It is assumed herethat entitlement flag 541 is stored in rewritable memory 54 ofmanagement device 50A, and that the entitlement flag indicates thatthere is a parent node entitlement. Therefore, processor 51 ofmanagement device 50A that has received the transfer request transmitsto game terminal 10A a transfer response containing entitlement dataindicating that game terminal 10A has a parent node entitlement andupdates entitlement flag 541 so that it indicates that there is noparent node entitlement. The parent node entitlement of managementdevice 50A is thus transferred to game terminal 10A.

Processor 11 of game terminal 10A, having received the transferresponse, transmits a grouping request containing ability data to serverdevice 40. Processor 41 of server device 40, having received thegrouping request, adds a blank record corresponding to the next-formedplayer group in entry list 441 as a next-formed record, and selects gameterminal 10A as a parent node. As a result, the contents of the entrylist 441 will be as shown in FIG. 13.

Subsequently, a start instruction is input with input unit 14 at gameterminal 10B. Processor 11 of game terminal 10B then transmits tomanagement device 50B a transfer request. It is assumed here thatentitlement flag 541 is stored in rewritable memory 54 of managementdevice 50B, and that the entitlement flag indicates that there is noparent node entitlement. Therefore, processor 51 of management device50B, having received the transfer request, transmits to game terminal10B a transfer response not containing entitlement data.

Processor 11 of game terminal 10B, having received the transferresponse, transmits a grouping request not containing ability data toserver device 40. Processor 41 of server device 40, having received thegrouping request, selects game terminal 10B as a child node. As aresult, the contents of the entry list 441 will be as shown in FIG. 14.

Subsequently, a start instruction is input with input unit 14 at gameterminal 10C. Processor 11 of game terminal 10C then transmits tomanagement device 50C a transfer request requesting the transfer of aparent node entitlement. It is assumed here that entitlement flag 541 isstored in rewritable memory 54 of management device 50C, and that theentitlement flag indicates that there is a parent node entitlement.Therefore, processor 51 of management device 50C, having received thetransfer request, transmits to game terminal 10C a transfer responsecontaining entitlement data, and updates entitlement flag 541 so that itindicates that there is no parent node entitlement. The parent nodeentitlement of management device 50C is thus transferred to gameterminal 10C.

Processor 11 of game terminal 10C, having received the transferresponse, transmits a grouping request containing ability data to serverdevice 40. Processor 41 of server device 40, having received thegrouping request, adds a blank record corresponding to a player group tobe formed after the next-formed player group in entry list 441 as anext-formed record and selects game terminal 10C as a parent node. As aresult, the contents of the entry list 441 will be as shown in FIG. 15.

Furthermore, it is assumed that a predetermined time (T) has elapsedsince the receipt of the grouping request from game terminal 10A.Processor 41 of server device 40 then performs the secondary selectionprocess. That is, processor 41 allocates the parent node (game terminal10C) of the subsequent player group as a child node of the next-formedplayer group, transmits a “not-needed” notification to game terminal 10Chaving a communication address that has been moved in the entry list inthis allocation, and deletes, from entry list 441, a record that hasturned blank as a result of the allocation. As a result, the contents ofthe entry list 441 will be as shown in FIG. 16.

Processor 11 of game terminal 10C, having received the “not needed”notification, transmits a return notification to management device 50C.Processor 51 of management device 50C, having received the returnnotification, updates the entitlement flag 541 so that it indicates thatthere is a parent node entitlement. The parent node transferred to gameterminal 10C is thus returned to management device 50C.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12A, at server device 40, once aplayer group is formed of game terminals 10A, 10B, and 10C, processor 41refers to a record of entry list 441 corresponding to the player groupto generate player group data indicating the configuration of the playergroup, transmits the player group data to game terminals 10A, 10B, and10C, and deletes the record from entry list 441. As a result, entry list441 returns to a state of having no record.

Each processor 11 of game terminals 10A, 10B, and 10C, having receivedthe player group data, stores the received player group data inrewritable memory 19. Processor 11 of game terminal 10A then determines,based on player group data T, that game terminal 10A has been selectedas a parent node, and each processor of game terminals 10B and 10Cdetermines, based on each player group data T, that game terminal 10 ofprocessor 11 is selected as a child node.

Based on these determinations, processors 11 of game terminal 10A, 10B,and 10C establish a communication connection between game terminal 10Aand game terminal 10B (hereinafter referred to as a “first connection”)and a communication connection between game terminal 10A and gameterminal 10C (hereinafter referred to as a “second connection”). Thefirst connection is established by processor 11 of game terminal 10Btransmitting an establishment request to game terminal 10A and byprocessor 11 of game terminal 10A transmitting an establishment responseto game terminal 10B as a response. The second connection is establishedby processor 11 of game terminal 10C transmitting an establishmentrequest to game terminal 10A and by processor 11 of game terminal 10Atransmitting an establishment response to game terminal 10C as aresponse.

As shown in FIG. 12B, processor 11 of game terminal 10A transmits a gamestart notification to each of game terminals 10B and 10C to start a gameprocess for parent node. On the other hand, each processor 11 of gameterminals 10B and 10C, having received the game start notification,starts a game process for child node. Each processor 11 of game devices10A, 10B, and 10C performs a game process, thereby allowing threeplayers, each using game terminals 10, to play the same predeterminedgame.

The communication using the first connection and the communication usingthe second connection are performed in parallel during the game so thatthe game can be advanced. Given that one end of the first connection andone end of the second connection are both at game terminal 10A, theamount of bandwidth used for advancing the game, out of the totalbandwidth of communication path 27A corresponding to communication group5A including game terminal 10A will be twice as much as the amount ofthe bandwidth used for advancing the game of the total bandwidth of acommunication path corresponding to a communication group including eachgame terminal 10 that has been selected as a child node.

When the predetermined game is finished, each processor 11 of gameterminals 10A, 10B, and 10C terminates the game process. Processor 11 ofgame terminal 10A, having terminated the game process, transmits areturn notification to management device 50A. Processor 51 of managementdevice 51, having received the return notification, updates entitlementflag 541 so that there is a parent node entitlement. The parent nodeentitlement exercised by game terminal 10A is thus returned tomanagement device 50A. As is obvious from the foregoing, entitlementflag 541 is data indicating whether a parent node entitlement can beexercised.

Effects:

As described in the foregoing, the maximum bandwidth required in acommunication path can be minimized without reducing the degree offreedom in designing a predetermined game because the maximum number ofgame terminals 10 that can be selected at one time as a parent node ineach communication group is limited to one according to the presentembodiment. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, theprobability is reduced of a player group not being formed even after apredetermined time has elapsed since game terminal 10 has transmitted agrouping request, with the player group including game terminal 10 thathas transmitted the request.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment, because it is certain that aparent node entitlement that has been transferred will be returned,chances of exercising the entitlement can be repeatedly provided to gameterminals included in a communication group. Obviously, the transfer ofa parent node entitlement is equivalent to the lending of a parent nodeentitlement. Therefore, entitlement flag 541 is data indicating whethera parent node entitlement is being lent.

Additionally, in the present embodiment, the returning of a parent nodeentitlement is performed immediately after a parent node entitlementbecomes no longer necessary. For example, processor 11 of game terminal10, having received a “not-needed” notification, immediately transmits areturn notification to the responsible management device. In anotherexample, processor 11 of game terminal 10 that has been selected as aparent node and has finished the game process immediately transmits areturn notification to the responsible management device. Therefore,according to the present embodiment, the opportunities for one or moregame terminals 10 to exercise a parent node entitlement are not wasted,the one or more game terminals being included in the same communicationgroup as game terminal 10 that has returned a parent node entitlement.

Modifications:

The above-described embodiments can be modified as described in thefollowing. These modifications are included in the scope of theinvention.

For example, the number of parent node entitlements managed bymanagement device 40 may be more than one. Specifically, entitlementflag 541 can be replaced by data capable of representing 3 or morevalues. In this modification, processor 51 of management device 50, uponreceiving a transfer request, determines whether the number representedby the data is 1 or more, and, if the number is 1 or more, transmits theentitlement data to game terminal 10 that has transmitted the transferrequest, updates the data so that the number represented by the data isreduced by 1, and updates the data so that the number represented by thedata is increased by 1 upon receiving a return notification.

The modification is not limited to the above because entitlement flag541 is data indicating the number of parent node entitlements thatmanagement device 50 has, as described in the foregoing. Thus, a gamesystem 100 can be conceived in which processor 51 of management device50 determines, upon receiving a transfer request, whether the memorycontent of rewritable memory 541 indicates whether there is 1 or moreparent node entitlements, and if the number is 1 or more, transmits theentitlement data to game terminal 10 that has transmitted the transferrequest, updates the memory content of rewritable memory 541 so that thenumber of parent node entitlements is reduced by 1, and updates thememory content of rewritable memory 541 so that the number of parentnode entitlements is increased by 1 upon receiving a returnnotification.

Furthermore, for example, the above embodiment may be modified to a modein which game terminal 10 concurrently serves as management device 50.Such a mode includes having a predetermined one of game terminals 10 ofeach communication group function as management device 50 correspondingto the communication group. Specifically, a communication address ofgame terminal 10 functioning as management device 50 corresponding to acommunication group including game terminal 10 is stored in non-volatilememory 18 of each game terminal 10, and each game terminal 10 transmitsa transfer request to game terminal 10 having the stored communicationaddress.

Alternatively, game terminal 10 may concurrently serve as managementdevice 50, for example, by having an arbitrary one of game terminals 10function as a management device. Specifically, each game terminal 10queries every game terminal 10 of a communication group in which gameterminal 10 is included, before transmitting a transfer request, toidentify the game terminal 10 that is functioning as management device50 corresponding to the communication group and transmits the transferrequest to the identified game terminal 10.

A method of realizing the mode of game terminal 10 concurrently servingas management device 50 can be, for example, having game terminal 10serving as management device 50 execute a process providing the functionof game terminal 10 and a process providing the function of managementdevice 50 in parallel. In the mode realized by this method, thecommunication between management device 50 and game terminal 10,concurrently functioning as management device 50 will be the so-called“InterProcess Communication”.

Furthermore, a modification may be made such that management device 50is not provided, and game terminal 10 determines whether a groupingrequest containing ability data can be transmitted, i.e., whether aparent node entitlement can be exercised, without communicating withanother device. There are various ways of realizing the determination asto whether a parent node entitlement can be exercised. For example,rewritable memory 19 of each game terminal 10 may store a flagindicating whether a parent node entitlement can be exercised so thatprocessor 11 of game terminal 10 determines whether a parent nodeentitlement can be exercised based on the flag, and, in a case in whichgame terminal 10 starts exercising a parent node entitlement, gameterminal 10 updates the flag stored in other game terminals 10 of acommunication group in which game terminal 10 itself is included so thatthe flag shows that the exercise of a parent node entitlement is notpossible.

Even furthermore, the number of communication nodes included in a playergroup may be modified to be four or more. Also, the number of gameterminals included in a communication group may be modified to bebetween one and three, inclusive, or five or more, or may be modified sothat the number varies among each communication group.

Furthermore, a server device may request that a game terminal play thegame alone, or with two or more, even in a case in which thepredetermined number of terminals cannot be grouped in one player groupwithin the predetermined time period as a result of the matchingprocess.

1. A game terminal for use in a game system having a server devicecomprising: a communicator that communicates with the server device thatforms a player group of game terminals that will play a multiple-playergame in a unit of a group by selecting, from among plural game terminalsof plural communication groups, one game terminal as a parent noderequiring a larger amount of bandwidth during a game and at least twogame terminals as child nodes, each requiring a smaller amount ofbandwidth; an inputter that receives an instruction input by a player; agrouping request transmitter that generates, upon a predeterminedinstruction being input via the inputter, a grouping request forrequesting the forming of the player group and that transmits thegrouping request to the server device via the communicator; a playergroup data receiver that receives, via the communicator, player groupdata indicating the configuration of the player group; and a controllerthat determines, on the basis of the player group data, whether the gameterminal has been selected as a parent node and that controlscommunication during the game based on a result of the determination;the grouping request transmitter comprising: an entitlement determinerthat determines, upon receiving the predetermined instruction, whetherthe game terminal can exercise entitlement to function as a parent node;and a generator that generates, in a case in which the entitlementdeterminer has determined that the exercise of the entitlement ispossible, the grouping request containing ability data indicating thatthe game terminal has an ability to be selected as a parent node andthat otherwise generates the grouping request not containing the abilitydata, wherein the server device comprises: an ability detector thatdetects whether the grouping request contains the ability data uponreceiving the grouping request; a selector that selects, as a parentnode, one of the game terminals from among the game terminals that havetransmitted the grouping request containing the ability data and thatselects at least two game terminals as child nodes from among gameterminals that have transmitted the grouping requests other than the onegame terminal selected as the parent node; and a player group datatransmitter that transmits, to each of the game terminals configuringthe player group grouped through the selection by the selector, theplayer group data of the player group; and wherein each of the pluralcommunication groups has plural game terminals, the plural communicationgroups having been allocated different communication paths from oneanother, the plural game terminals of each of the communication groupssharing a communication path allocated to the communication group.
 2. Aserver device for use in a game system having plural communicationgroups each including plural game terminals, wherein the pluralcommunication groups have been allocated different communication pathsfrom one another, and the plural game terminals of each of thecommunication groups share a communication path allocated to the eachcommunication group, the server device comprising: a communicator thatcommunicates with each of the plural game terminals; and a grouper thatforms a player group of game terminals that will play a multiple-playergame in a unit of a group by selecting, from among the plural gameterminals of the plural communication groups, one game terminal as aparent node requiring a larger amount of bandwidth during a game and atleast two game terminals as child nodes, each requiring a smaller amountof bandwidth, wherein each of the plural game terminals of the pluralcommunication groups comprises: an inputter that receives an instructioninput by a player; a grouping request transmitter that generates, upon apredetermined instruction being input via the inputter, a groupingrequest for requesting the forming of the player group and thattransmits the grouping request to the server device via thecommunicator; a player group data receiver that receives player groupdata indicating the configuration of the player group via thecommunicator; and a controller that determines, on the basis of theplayer group data, whether the game terminal has been selected as aparent node and that controls communication during the game based on aresult of the determination, with the grouping request transmittercomprising: an entitlement determiner that determines, upon receivingthe predetermined instruction, whether the game terminal can exercise anentitlement to function as a parent node; and a generator thatgenerates, in a case in which the entitlement determiner has determinedthat the exercise of the entitlement is possible, the grouping requestcontaining ability data indicating that the game terminal has an abilityto be selected as a parent node and that otherwise generates thegrouping request not containing the ability data, wherein the grouper ofthe server device comprises: an ability detector that detects whetherthe grouping request contains the ability data upon receiving thegrouping request via the communicator; a selector that selects, as aparent node, one of the game terminals from among game terminals thathave transmitted the grouping request containing the ability data andthat selects at least two game terminals as child nodes from among gameterminals that have transmitted the grouping requests other than the onegame terminal selected as the parent node; and a player group datatransmitter that transmits, to each of the game terminals configuringthe player group grouped through the selection by the selector, theplayer group data of the player group.
 3. A game terminal for use in agame system having a server device comprising: a hardware processorincluding at least one CPU; a communicator that communicates with theserver device that forms a player group of game terminals that will playa multiple-player game in a unit of a group by selecting, from amongplural game terminals of plural communication groups, one game terminalas a parent node requiring a larger amount of bandwidth during a gameand at least two game terminals as child nodes, each requiring a smalleramount of bandwidth; an inputter that receives an instruction input by aplayer; a grouping request transmitter that generates, upon apredetermined instruction being input via the inputter, a groupingrequest for requesting the forming of the player group and thattransmits the grouping request to the server device via thecommunicator; a player group data receiver that receives, via thecommunicator, player group data indicating the configuration of theplayer group; and a controller that determines, on the basis of theplayer group data, whether the game terminal has been selected as aparent node and that controls communication during the game based on aresult of the determination; the grouping request transmittercomprising: an entitlement determiner that determines, upon receivingthe predetermined instruction, whether the game terminal can exerciseentitlement to function as a parent node; and a generator thatgenerates, in a case in which the entitlement determiner has determinedthat the exercise of the entitlement is possible, the grouping requestcontaining ability data indicating that the game terminal has an abilityto be selected as a parent node and that otherwise generates thegrouping request not containing the ability data, wherein the serverdevice comprises: an ability detector that detects whether the groupingrequest contains the ability data upon receiving the grouping request; aselector that selects, as a parent node, one of the game terminals fromamong the game terminals that have transmitted the grouping requestcontaining the ability data and that selects at least two game terminalsas child nodes from among game terminals that have transmitted thegrouping requests other than the one game terminal selected as theparent node; and a player group data transmitter that transmits, to eachof the game terminals configuring the player group grouped through theselection by the selector, the player group data of the player group;and wherein each of the plural communication groups has plural gameterminals, the plural communication groups having been allocateddifferent communication paths from one another, the plural gameterminals of each of the communication groups sharing a communicationpath allocated to the communication group.
 4. A server device for use ina game system having plural communication groups each including pluralgame terminals, wherein the plural communication groups have beenallocated different communication paths from one another, and the pluralgame terminals of each of the communication groups share a communicationpath allocated to the each communication group, the server devicecomprising: a hardware processor including at least one CPU; acommunicator that communicates with each of the plural game terminals;and a grouper that forms a player group of game terminals that will playa multiple-player game in a unit of a group by selecting, from among theplural game terminals of the plural communication groups, one gameterminal as a parent node requiring a larger amount of bandwidth duringa game and at least two game terminals as child nodes, each requiring asmaller amount of bandwidth, wherein each of the plural game terminalsof the plural communication groups comprises: an inputter that receivesan instruction input by a player; a grouping request transmitter thatgenerates, upon a predetermined instruction being input via theinputter, a grouping request for requesting the forming of the playergroup and that transmits the grouping request to the server device viathe communicator; a player group data receiver that receives playergroup data indicating the configuration of the player group via thecommunicator; and a controller that determines, on the basis of theplayer group data, whether the game terminal has been selected as aparent node and that controls communication during the game based on aresult of the determination, with the grouping request transmittercomprising: an entitlement determiner that determines, upon receivingthe predetermined instruction, whether the game terminal can exercise anentitlement to function as a parent node; and a generator thatgenerates, in a case in which the entitlement determiner has determinedthat the exercise of the entitlement is possible, the grouping requestcontaining ability data indicating that the game terminal has an abilityto be selected as a parent node and that otherwise generates thegrouping request not containing the ability data, wherein the grouper ofthe server device comprises: an ability detector that detects whetherthe grouping request contains the ability data upon receiving thegrouping request via the communicator; a selector that selects, as aparent node, one of the game terminals from among game terminals thathave transmitted the grouping request containing the ability data andthat selects at least two game terminals as child nodes from among gameterminals that have transmitted the grouping requests other than the onegame terminal selected as the parent node; and a player group datatransmitter that transmits, to each of the game terminals configuringthe player group grouped through the selection by the selector, theplayer group data of the player group.